Posted on 05/17/2007 10:16:31 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - A bipartisan group of senators reached agreement with the White House Thursday on an immigration overhaul to grant quick legal status to millions of illegal immigrants already in the U.S. and fortify the border against new ones.
One of the key negotiators, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said he expects President Bush to endorse it.
The deal came after weeks of painstaking closed-door negotiations that brought the most liberal Democrats and the most conservative Republicans together with Bush's Cabinet officers to produce a highly complex measure that carries heavy political consequences.
It set the stage for what promises to be a bruising battle next week in the Senate on one of Bush's top non-war priorities.
This is a breaking news update. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican and Democratic senators huddled Thursday trying to close in on an immigration compromise to grant quick legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants while fortifying U.S. borders against new ones.
A group of lawmakers that has been haggling over the terms of agreement for weeks were reviewing language negotiated Wednesday night in efforts to nail down a deal. Among the final sticking points was a stubborn dispute over how much family ties count toward green cards under a new "point system." The plan prioritizes advanced skills and education levels for future immigrants.
Two of the lead negotiators, Sens. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., and Lindsey Graham (news, bio, voting record), R-S.C., booked time for Thursday afternoon in the Senate's radio-TV gallery for an announcement.
But Kennedy said some were hanging back as an agreement inched closer.
"There are just some people who don't want to close on this. There comes a time in every negotiation where people have to close," Kennedy said. "Today is it."
Kennedy said Thursday was likely the last chance for a compromise before senators scattered for a three-day weekend.
"The immigration reform legislation has come to a boiling point," Sen. Arlen Specter (news, bio, voting record), R-Pa., said just before going into Thursday's meeting. "We've tried to come to a consensus and I think we are very, very close, but every time we grasp it, it eludes a final resolution."
If no deal emerged, Senate Democrats were to vote Monday evening to bring up an immigration measure that passed last year over the objections of most Republicans, who have said they will block it. That would be a highly partisan start to the immigration debate, which divides the two parties and exposes fissures within their ranks.
Even with a bipartisan agreement, the immigration debate could easily devolve into a free-for-all in the unruly Senate.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record), D-Nev., has said he wants to complete a bill before Memorial Day, and President Bush says he wants to sign one by summer's end.
so a conservative estimate: 12 million illegals (really problem 20+ million) each with 1 spouse, 2 kids, and 4 parents
that's 8 illegals given AMNESTY for every 1 illegal!
estimated 12 x 8 = 100 million new illegals.
this is effectively treason through legislation.
i hope the host had the facts wrong
Did they get voting rights too?. If so, it’s done, turn out the lights
It is time to call and threaten Senators Craig Graham and the other tratorous Republicans with loss of office.
LOL!! Complete, pure, and unadulterated bullcrap.
You can fully assimilate into America and its culture in one generation, if you really want to. My own family did it, and my father's parents both came here from non English-speaking countries.
Don’t kid yourself. If you destroy the Republican party, you simply will have to live with the Democrats as rulers of the state until you get sick and tired of it and by then it may very well be too late.
You guys are in very dangerous over reaction mode.
Are you kidding?? You need to visit Southern California. We have scads of illegal - and legal immigrants - who barely speak English, even after being here 20 years or more. They don't need to...we cater to them in their own language.
Tancredo and Hunter are the only two who speak clearly on it. Look for a move to futher marginalize them and exclude them from debates starting soon.
Been to Miami?
Same here. Wait until this hits home with the grassroots.
The Republican Party has destroyed itself — without firing a shot, as Margaret Thatcher claimed RR had done with the Cold War.
The Reagan amnesty was supposed to be for a million illegal aliens. Three million availed themselves of our largesse.
If this is supposed to be for 10 to 12 million, I predict that the math will hold: 30 million plus illegal invaders will be handed the most precious franchise on earth, American citizenship.
Craig and Graham know that ID and SC will vote for any incumbent for nearly any reason for as long as they are on the ballot. Maybe too they want to leave the Senate and become lobbyists and don’t care about reelection.
Neither of those two are electable; if Fred Thompson doesn't run, the Hildabeast will be stealing the White House silverware in '08, again..........
I ask myself, is this worse than Hillary being president?
Yes.
There will be millions who will drop out of the political process. I am tempted to do the same. No matter what you do those damn politicians do whatever they please.
I curse them all. Including Bush.
This was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I will not vote for another republican. I believe we should elect democrats. This will force a new conservative movement with new leaders to evolve. Our current conservative leadership has sold out our America, and have just spit in our face to finish off the takeover.
Talk about depressing the base!
I don’t think there are any grassroots — the grass has been mowed down into a golf course. The grassroots are as confused as weeds among flowers.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1835003/posts?page=4#4
This is from this morning, you mean to tell me that from this AM until right now he switched? What channel did you see this on?
Yea, but at least Sam Brownback is probably 10 percent more “conservative” than Dole was in that seat, for what it’s worth. Brownback must be surprised that people don’t want a Kansan.
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